The bartender is one of the friendliest faces that some guests will see when they are on a cruise ship. They are qualified individuals that do much more than simply pop open a fresh beer or pour some wine. The job of a cruise ship bartender requires that you are friendly, knowledgeable, and not afraid to work hard. You will be spending the majority of your time on your feet moving around the bar constantly.
When you are prepared for your interview and know what to expect from the position of a cruise ship bartender, you will be much more likely to earn this coveted position. Keep reading to learn more about this job and how you can put your best foot forward during your interview.
What’s the Job of Bartender on a Cruise Ship?
Bartenders do much more than simply provide guests with drinks when they are on the ship. You must also know how to manage the bar to ensure that it is performing to the high standards set by the cruise line. This means that in addition to making and serving drinks, you must understand all of the various aspects of beverage service and ensure that they are being carried out correctly.
Sales Techniques
You must understand sales techniques that you can use when interacting with guests and be comfortable with both suggestive selling as well as upselling. Additionally, great bartenders must know how to control inventory, keep the bar clean, understand resupplying, and handle any bar staff problems that may arise.
Cruise Lines will often have a Drink of the Day and you must know how to make it and sell it to the guests, while not forgetting to upsell.
Bar Management Skills
Bartenders are in charge of the bar and must make sure to train the bar staff to keep the place neat, organized, and stocked. Bartenders are responsible for planning and taking deliveries of any and all supplies that the bar will need and are in charge of helping meet any budget targets.
Since bartenders need to be able to manage employees, balance time, and understand budgets, these are all skills that you will want to address with your potential employer. Preparing for the interview by having in mind examples of when you have successfully done these things will help to set you apart.
Do You Know Bartending Flare Techniques?
Besides the regular job of a bartender, there’s also the fun part of it, called flair bartending. Being a flair bartender can make the job much more fun. Although cruise lines have different position for flair bartenders, if you know or have your own techniques, it could mean the difference between getting a job or not on a cruise ship.
Take a look below at the video named from the Ray Made TV Youtube Channel
Yout Don’t have to be the Bruce Lee of Bartending but having some techniques up your sleeve can help!
What Are the Job Requirements of a Cruise Ship Bartender?
Even though it may seem easy to get a job as a bartender in a local town bar, working on a cruise ship will require more from you, so you must be prepared for the higher quality of work that you will perform and the higher expectations that you must meet. Bartenders need to have a high school diploma or GED at the minimum, although a college degree is always helpful. Since math is so important on a day to day basis when working at a bar, you must have strong math skills such as calculating interest, commissions, tips, and even percentages that must be done correctly and quickly.
Additional Languages Can Help.
Bartenders who speak more than one language are clearly going to be a more attractive choice for cruise ships as they will be able to better interact with more guests. This is not a necessity for all cruise ships but is a great way for you to set yourself apart in addition to meeting the other qualifications. There’s a variety of different languages spoken and cruise ships are in all corners of the world. If you speak Spanish, chances are that cruise lines will place you on a route that attracts a lot of Spanish-speaking guests, like cruises sailing out of Barcelona. If you speak Portuguese, you might work on the Brazilian season, if your company has cruises going to Brazil.
Can I get a Bartending Job with no Experience?
You would most likely not be hired for a job as a bartender on a cruise ship without previous experiences working as a bartender. Not only do you need to have at least two to three years experience working in the beverage industry as a bartender but you must also have strong communication abilities. Cruise ship bartenders are constantly interacting with the guests and you must make sure that you make them feel comfortable and happy when at the bar.
How Much Is the Salary of a Bartender on a Cruise Ship?
Qualified applicants and ones who are able to get a position on a larger ship are likely going to make more. In general, however, bartenders can expect to make between $1500 and $2800 a month, inclusive of tips.
Bar managers who handle all of the ordering, budgeting, and scheduling will expect to make a bit more. These bartenders can easily bring home up to $3800 a month, depending on what cruise line they choose to work for.
Tips on How to Prepare for the Interview
One of the things that a cruise line is looking for when hiring bartenders is good judgment and the ability to discern when a guest has had enough to drink. Being able to communicate with guests is key and understanding how to use good judgment when serving clients will keep guests happy and safe.
Bartenders also need to be able to multitask in order to be successful on a large cruise ship. It’s a good idea for you to have in mind a few examples of past multitasking that you can talk about as this is a great way to show the cruise line director that you are able to work on many things at once without getting frustrated.
Have a good Knowledge of Common Drinks
Having a vast knowledge of common cocktails are a must for this position. Drink preferences can shift based on the time of the year and the location in the world where the cruise ship is at the time. Italians love Spritz and Brazilians love Caipirinhas.
Common Drinks are:
| MAI TAI | PINA COLADAS | MUDSLIDES |
| BLOODY MARY | MARGARITAS | CAIPIRINHA |
| MOJITOS | BAHAMA MAMA | MARTINIS |
Also, make sure you have a good knowledge of wines. Guests will often ask for recommendations about wines.
Common Bartender Interview Questions
Review some of the most common interview questions that are used for bartenders so that you are prepared. These include “How are your skills as a salesperson?” and “What do you do when you think that someone has had too much to drink?” Being prepared with answers can help set you apart from other applicants.
Examples of Questions You Might get Asked:
- How do you know when someone had too much to drink?
- What are your Favorite Drinks to prepare?
- Have you ever worked on a cruise ship before? If yes, please describe your role and responsibilities.
- Are you familiar with the specific challenges and demands of bartending on a cruise ship?
- Are you familiar with any specific health and safety regulations related to bartending?
- Do you have any experience with bartending software or POS systems?
- Can you handle working long hours and being away from home for extended periods of time?
- What cocktail recipes are you most confident in making?
- Have you taken a bartender course?
- What would you do if you suspect someone is underage?
- What do you do with a drunk customer?
- Explain how you prepare a specific drink. (ex: Manhattan, Pina Colada, Martini,etc.)
Training is Provided
Once onboard cruise lines will be constantly adding new drinks to the menu and training will be provided. Make sure that you take the time to study these drinks because not knowing the most common drinks the cruise line offers can stop you from moving up. There’s always a Drink of the Day, so, at the minimum, you might need to remember over 7 different types of drinks if on a seven-day cruise.
Learn About Living and Working on a Cruise Ship (Ship Life)
Learn about all aspects of ship life, like long hours, shared cabins, and long contracts. These will become part of your daily routine when working on a cruise ship. You are signing up not just for a job but for a lifestyle as well. Recruiters want to know that you have what it takes to adapt to this transition to a life at sea. If you have worked on a cruise ship before, recruiters will not focus on these details as much.
Final Words
Landing a job as a cruise ship bartender is not always easy but the end result is worth it for a lot of people. If you are highly motivated, understand how to run a bar without complications, and want to travel and interact with people each day that you are at work, then this may be a good position for you to apply for.
Good luck with your search!
A Bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory.
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